David Beckham still uneasy with England's failure to stage 2018 World Cup finals

David Beckham cannot get rid of the nasty taste in his mouth over England’s
inability to land the 2018 World Cup finals but wants to pursue
ambassodorial role.

Ambassadorial: David Beckham still unhappy with bid failure but keen to continue in ambassador's rolePhoto: REUTERS

By Ken Lawrence, Los Angeles

7:45PM BST 24 Jul 2011

Beckham worked alongside Prince William and David Cameron on the bid but that stellar trio and the 30-strong team that went to Zurich on December 1 confident of winning were left confounded with England polling only two votes and losing out to Russia.

There were claims that England's bid executives had been lied to, with many fingers pointing to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who resigned last month following allegations of bribery and trying to manipulate the outcome of the organisation’s presidential election.

In the immediate aftermath Beckham admitted only to “huge disappointment” but speaking in Los Angeles he was far more explicit, condemning those who had reneged on their promises.

He said :“There was so much hard work that went into that bid.

"Nobody could have done any more, and then you factor in the fact we also had the weight of the Prime Minister and the future king of England behind us.

“It doesn’t get much bigger and better than that, so the situation we see now leaves a sick taste in your mouth.

“There was so much hard work put in," added Beckham. "I went to Trinidad, Prince William did other things, the Prime Minister was involved. We were happy with the bid we put forward and it still gives you a real sick feeling not getting it.

“Obviously something wrong when you look at the investigations since the vote and some of the things that have come out.

“There’s been so much said about it since, but at the time you don’t suspect there is something wrong.

"When people tell you to your face that you have got your vote, you want to believe them.“

The experience has not, however, put Beckham off involvement in similar projects. The 36 year-old, who is an Olympic ambassador for next year’s London games, is now contemplating his future once his contract with LA Galaxy ends in January.

But when he hangs up his boots he is unlikely to turn to coaching or management.

Instead, he is interested in more work on the other side of the fence, saying ambassadorial roles appeal to him.

“If you’d asked me at one time, I don’t think I would have enjoyed that kind of thing, but I have actually loved it, the success of bringing the Olympics to London, and putting the bid forward for the World Cup.

“Those are the things I get a buzz from now and I will definitely continue in some sense. I’m not looking to go into management or coaching.

“It’s not something I think I would enjoy. What happens in the future, I don’t know.

"This is the last year of the contract I signed in 2007 and I said all along that I’m happy playing here, I enjoy playing in this league, for this franchise, and with the players we have and with Bruce Arena as my manager.

“Going forward, I’m just going to have to see how my body feels at the end of this year.

"I had my injury year last year and I’m getting a bit older now. We’ll have to wait and see but if I continue enjoying my football I want to continue to play.”

Beckham has already said he would like to play for Team GB at the Olympics, one reason he intends to keep playing, adding: “When you get older it does take longer to get over games, but I still feet fit, I still feel fresh and I’m still enjoying it, so I don’t see any reason to stop.”

One of his former Manchester United team-mates, Paul Scholes, has retired and Beckham believes Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder is the ideal replacement, saying : “I think he would fit right in.”